The Rolex Grand Prix, the show’s height group, was the culmination of the Dutch Masters, the second Rolex Grand Slam of the calendar month. The Major, the last of the four shows in the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping to honor the initiative’s ten-year anniversary, did so with a flattering festival on Saturday night looking back over the shows from the previous decade.
Fans were eager to see if Richard Vogel, the latest Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping life competitor, could win back-to-back Majors in his quest for the sport’s best prize, a task that would require a dramatic field of riders, including the latest European, World, and Olympic champions, who were all hoping to win this prestigious Rolex Grand Prix.
Martin Fuchs, the following to go, was the first to learn Louis Konickx’s extremely built program, and he was the winner of the CPKC ‘ International’ Grand Prix, presented by Rolex at the CSIO Spruce Meadows’ Masters ‘ Tournament. The most of any animal in the group, Leone Jei, is his support, who has jumped eight clears in the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping Majors.
World No. 2 is the next addition to the main area. The flying Frenchman Julien Epaillard was another to pass the 14 mix program, keeping his hopes of becoming the first European horse to win a Major dead. 1 Henrik von Eckermann and King Edward ensured there would be a jump-off with a perfectly judged distinct round. Seven riders from seven different countries were in contention for the jump-off, including German rider Marcus Ehning and the” Dutch Horse of the Year” Harrie Smolders, who lit the residence crowd on fire. Only two more combinations of the remaining riders made it to the second circular, with some of the competition’s favorites like Steve Guerdat and Richard Vogel unwilling to join the special list of riders.
Fuchs set the pace with a distinct in 35.11 hours, but von Eckermann and King Edward immediately took the lead when they crossed the line in 33.74 seconds, making it clear that they were the leading pair in the world. Glows produced a very soft round, but the grief came when he was 0.92 seconds slower. The crowd roared back. Sweden’s victory appeared to be on the line, but French rider Willem Greve and his sea stallion, Highway TN N. O. P., with their perfectly vetted round, won in the final round. only 0.04 hours ahead of the other. Greve thus won his second Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping Major as well as a first for the Netherlands, making him the life candidate ahead of the CHIO Aachen in July.
The French horse stated:” I have to squeeze myself – it is amazing. Thoughts may adequately express how I feel. For his bravery and culture, I am so appreciative of my horse. The background here is amazing, and it honors me to be included in the list of winners. It means a lot to me to get in front of my home crowd. To win at The French Masters is a dream come true because I’ve been a part of it since I was a young child.
Major ten Rolex Grand Prix’s in Hertogenbosch- CSI5*, Piece of Table A’s Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping- Board A with Jump- Off 1m60
| Rank | Nr. | Owner/breeder of the ride | Horse – Breed Breed Color Born Sire Siredam Dam Siredam | EUR | RoundA | Jump-Off | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 64 | Willem Greve NED Team Nijhof vof / P. Verdellen paarden fok & opfok | Bridge TN N. O. P. – KWPN Stallion Bay 2012 Eldorado v. Zeshoek Chellano Zelana V | 330000 | 0 | 0 | 33.70 |
| 2 | 92 | Henrik von Eckermann SWE Dufour Stables Ag, Henrik von Eckermann/ Wim Impens, | King Edward – BWP Gelding Chestnut from 2010- Edward 28- Feo Koningin de Lauzelle | 200000 | 0 | 0 | 33.74 |
| 3 | 87 | Otto Boje Schoof, Harrie Smolders, and Harrie Smolders NED Spronken Leon | Uricas van de Kattevenenen – HOLST Stallion Bay 2012 Uriko San Patrignano Cassini T- Cassina | 150000 | 0 | 0 | 34.66 |
| 4 | 32 | Martin Fuchs SUI Adolfo JURI / G. M. Van Mersbergen | Leone Jei – KWPN Gelding– Grey 2012 Baltic VDL Corland Dara | 100000 | 0 | 0 | 35.11 |
| 5 | 118 | Molly Ohrstrom, Denis Lynch/Polfliet Eric, Sint Kruis Winkel, and Denis Lynch IRL | Brooklyn Heights – BWP Gelding Chestnut 2009 Nabab de Reve For Pleasure Cordula de Laubry | 60000 | 0 | 0 | 37.89 |
| 6 | 6 | La Roque Baignard, Pieter Devos, BEL Devos Stables, and Top Stallions Corporation | Toupie de la Roque – SF Mare Chestnut 2007 Kannan Nabab de Reve Walloon de Muze | 45000 | 0 | 0 | 38.51 |
| 7 | 108 | Marcus Ehning GER Nybor Pferde GmbH & Co. KG, Sportpferde Ehning GbR/ Claire &, Philippe Rizzoli | Priam du Roset – CH Gelding Bay 2011 Plot Blue Tanael du Serein Ganaelle du Roset CH | 30000 | 0 | 0 | 42.87 |
| 8 | 22 | Gregory Wathelet BEL Perek Barake/Grey Wathelet | ESH Gelding, Aliandro B. Ra, Rachel, Ace of Hearts, 2010 | 25000 | 0 | 8 | 36.30 |
| 9 | 14 | Julien Epaillard FRA Sarl Exceptional Horses S. L., Perrine Cateline, Sylvain Pito/Sylvain Pitois, Perrine Cateline, | Chestnut from 2013 Baloubet du Rouet, Diamant de Semilly, and Urgada de Kreisker are from Dubai du Cedre and SF Mare. | 20000 | 0 | 8 | 36.60 |
| 10 | 121 | Loewie Joppen NED Loewie Joppen, G Vanderhoijdonck / van der Kloet | Havel van de Wolfsakker Z – ZANG Gelding Bay 2011 Hos d’O Bollvorm’S Libero H Nisinia van de Wolfsakker | 20000 | 3 | 75.20 |
Photo: Ashley Neuhof/Rolex Grand Slam | Press release Inside The French Masters 2024: Sunday, March 10th,
